This is the stage the semifinalists have eagerly awaited and rigorously prepared for. A win fuels their championship aspirations, pushing them closer to a dream finals appearance. A loss, however, leaves them teetering on the edge, with their title hopes hanging in the balance.
The Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference kicks off its Final Four stage today (Saturday) at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, a high-stakes single round-robin showdown where every game matters. Each result could either propel a team toward the championship or derail their path entirely. With intense rivalries, electrifying plays and dreams on the line, expect nothing less than pure volleyball brilliance.
Choco Mucho and Akari are set to ignite the battle for supremacy as they clash in the 4 p.m. opener of what promises to be a nerve-wracking semis phase. Both squads earned their spots after grueling five-set victories in the quarterfinals – proof that no team is willing to back down in this do-or-die stretch. Their earlier encounter saw Choco Mucho win in four sets, but much has changed since that Feb. 8 showdown, making this rematch anything but predictable.
The Flying Titans are determined to erase the heartbreak of last year’s title pursuit, while the Chargers are equally focused on seizing a championship after falling short in the Reinforced Conference finals.
“Of course, we always say to take it one game at a time. We shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves, we will keep working hard. So, this is an extra motivation for me – I will never give up on my teammates. That’s why we’ll get back to work again,” said Choco Mucho star Sisi Rondina in Filipino, on the semis after a grueling two-game series against PLDT.
But the Chargers are just as determined to launch their semis campaign on a strong note.
“We know our goal. We all know what we want to achieve. But how we achieve it – that’s what we work on every day, and it keeps us focused on one game at a time until we reach that goal. A small step toward the bigger goal,” said Akari’s Faith Nisperos, who was not with the team during their Finals run in the Reinforced.
Choco Mucho, under the guidance of coach Dante Alinsunurin, boasts a lethal mix of power and defense with Sisi Rondina, Isa Molde, Maika Ortiz, Royse Tubino, Cherry Nunag and the rising Mars Alba. Their ability to perform under pressure will be key in overcoming their unpredictable opponents.
On the other side, Akari coach Taka Minowa will be banking on Faith Nisperos, Ivy Lacsina, Eli Soyud, Grethcel Soltones, Camille Victoria and Fifi Sharma, while expecting big contributions from Ced Domingo, Ezra Madrigal and playmaker Michelle Cobb.
But while Choco Mucho and Akari fight for an early advantage, all eyes remain on defending champions Creamline, which is gunning for an unprecedented 11th league title. However, even with their championship pedigree, the Cool Smashers face a formidable challenge in the 6:30 p.m. main event against the Petro Gazz Angels.
Consistency, resilience, and adaptability will be tested in a short format where every game is crucial, and ties will be resolved by the FIVB tiebreaker system. Records and past performances mean little in a high-pressure setting like this – what matters is who delivers when it counts.
Creamline’s dominance in the league is undeniable, having built a dynasty with its wealth of experience and a winning culture ingrained by coach Sherwin Meneses. But even dynasties can be shaken, and this season has already been marked by unexpected upsets.
“Every day, the coach and the senior players remind us not to be complacent, even if the game is still far ahead. Even in training, we really go all out. If we start to relax a bit, Ate Ly (Alyssa Valdez) and Ate MG (Michele Gumabao) immediately remind us. That’s a huge thing because we get reminded every day,” said Creamline top hitter Bernadeth Pons in Filipino.
Choco Mucho, Akari and Petro Gazz have shown flashes of brilliance and resilience, making this semis round one of the most unpredictable in recent memory.
Petro Gazz, led by coach Koji Tsuzubara, is determined to break through after surviving a tough three-game series against ZUS Coffee. With Brooke Van Sickle, Myla Pablo, Aiza Pontillas, Jonah Sabete, Remy Palma, and star middle blocker MJ Phillips anchoring their campaign, the two-time Reinforced Conference champion Angels will be out to prove they can finally claim an elusive All-Filipino crown.
“We have to have the mindset that these teams have more firepower, I would say, and a little bit more. We can’t come out flat. Like, you see how the PVL, it’s been all sorts of ups and downs, and you don’t know who wants it more. So we just better come out,” said one-time MVP Van Sickle.
But regardless of history or firepower, every team enters the semis on equal footing. There are no guarantees – only the certainty of intense battles ahead.
With every point carrying immense weight and no room for off nights, this semis phase will separate true contenders from those merely hoping to break through. Can the Cool Smashers extend their reign, or will one of the challengers finally unseat them? The only certainty is that volley fans are in for a breathtaking ride, where every game is a final, and every win brings one step closer to the crown.
Games today (Saturday)
(Ynares Center, Antipolo)
4 p.m. – Akari vs Choco Mucho
6:30 p.m. – Creamline vs Petro Gazz